Raleigh, N.C. — For a second straight day, House members engaged in a long, emotional debate Wednesday over legislation that loosens state restrictions on who can carry a concealed weapon and where those weapons can be carried.

After close to six hours of debate over the two days, the House voted 78-37 in favor of House Bill 562, sending it to the Senate for further consideration.

The House dismantled the most controversial provisions of the bill on Tuesday, including one that would have eliminated the requirement that handgun buyers obtain a pistol purchase permit from their local sheriff and another that would have allowed lawmakers and their staffers to carry concealed weapons at the legislature.

Several other amendments were proposed Wednesday, but after lengthy discussions about school shootings, mental health and legal fees, only a couple minor changes were made to the bill.

When debate began on the bill itself, things quickly got personal.

"I just don't understand where some of you people's minds are going to," Rep. Gary Pendleton, R-Wake, said to bill opponents.

"I'm one of 'you people,'" Rep. Mickey Michaux, D-Durham, shot back, expressing disgust at how regulations he worked for years to get on the books were steadily being eroded by the Republican-led legislature.

Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett, who had stepped in for House Speaker Tim Moore, had to remind members that House rules don't allow them to call one another out during floor debates.

"This bill, this legislation, has brought out the worst in all of us," Rep. Susi Hamilton, D-New Hanover, said later during the debate.

Both gun-rights backers and gun-control advocates quoted statistics and related anecdotes about concealed weapons and violence to buttress their respective arguments.

"People are safer when more good people have guns and bad guys know they've got to be careful," said Rep. John Blust, R-Guilford.

Reps. Yvonne Lewis Holley, D-Wake, and Rodney Moore, D-Mecklenburg, discussed the alarming rate of gun deaths in minority neighborhoods, but Rep. Bert Jones, R-Rockingham, said violence like that existed long before guns were invented.

"That's like saying the way to get rid of obesity is to get rid of the forks. Forks are not the problem," Jones said.

Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, noted that the Second Amendment doesn't give people the right to carry a concealed weapon, while Rep. Larry Hall, D-Durham, said lawmakers should focus on ways to make North Carolina communities safer instead of on ways to allow people to defend themselves.

"Having a gun doesn't necessarily make you safer or anyone around you safer," Hall said.

David BunnJun 19, 2015

Getting rid of the permit system was the only thing that mattered.

Mark ClineJun 19, 2015

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This is the most useless piece of legislation ever.

— Posted by Paul Blart

I suggest you actually read the latest version. There are, indeed, many good, and necessary, provisions within. Of course, that would depend on one's viewpoint. True, it doesn't get rid of the PPP, but, it does make additional improvements that are needed. Including additional requirements for the timely reporting of pertinent information to the NICS.

Mark ClineJun 19, 2015

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"These folks" and "They"...can politicians stop referring to a mythical group of people and just state their own reasons for being for or against legislation? There is no way one person can know what another person's reasoning is, and to assume to know without facts only makes for folly. You look ignorant. There may be a few people who fit your analogy, but certainly you cannot know everyone's reasons for wanting or not wanting a measure to pass into law. In order to get a gun permit, a person has to go through a gun safety class and demonstrate ability to use a weapon and know safety requirements. To deny citizens the right to defend themselves while lawless persons will be armed illegally is to side with the perpetrator.

— Posted by Nada Diana Bobbitt

There is no requirement for a safety class to obtain a Pistol Purchase Permit. You must be thinking of the training requirement to obtain a Concealed Carry Handgun Permit.

While I would benefit from such a requirement, I do not believe the government should mandate it. I would encourage anyone who wishes to purchase any firearm, or has firearms, or may possibly come into contact with firearms, to take a safety class. The NCCCH training is excellent training, even for those who never intent to have anything to do with guns, because, done properly, it instructs in proper safe storage, safe handling, and the legal issues involved with purchasing, possessing firearms, and the legal justification for use of force, including deadly force, and a whole lot more!

I have been teaching these classes for over 6 years, 430 times, to almost 1250 people. www.hittingthemarkfirearmstraining.vpweb.com

Mark ClineJun 19, 2015

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Well I can tell you I AM a lot safer with guns in my house. We know how to use them and when to use them. If you come into my house without permission expect to die because I will empty my clip into whoever it is and while I'm popping my second clip in my hubby or kids will be squeezing their triggers and then I'll unload that clip into them if necessary and another clip. I can shoot off at least 30 rounds in 30 sec. Don't mess with mama bear's cubs or mate.

— Posted by Belinda Warrick

That was probably fun, but not helpful to the cause.

Mark ClineJun 19, 2015

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The only reason all of these folks suddenly got interested in being armed to the teeth is because they know they will be a minority one day soon. And a black man being elected president just sent them into an even bigger tizzy. Corporatists have skillfully manipulated their fear to get their agenda beneficial to only the wealthiest voted into power. In a decade or so when these folks die off or realize the sky didn't fall and that they are in just as bad a shape as the people they were taught to fear they will realize nobody was coming after their guns and that they got used. Paul Blart speaks truth to power. Se yall at the mall.

— Posted by Paul Blart

No, Paul, you will NOT see me at the mall. I don't like malls, especially when they have no weapons signs on the doors.

William JamesJun 18, 2015

Anti-Gun people lack a grasp on the real world. Gun Laws only effect those who follow the law! Not Criminals, hence the label. For the sake of argument lets test your theory, the Brady Bill passed in 1993 "outlawed" over 50 gun models and 22yrs later you can buy every single one of them! Also, US gov could never locate the millions of un-registered firearms. And, even if they could, 12yr olds in the Philippines make automatic handguns out of scape car metal, so we could easily do the same. Lastly, its horrible that thousand die of guns each year, but more people die from falling, cars accidents, etc every year but laws won't save them either!

Rudy RowellJun 18, 2015

If you think banning guns will reduce violence then lets just ban them all! the ones that are carried by the police, the military, and the security details for our beloved politicians! there I solved it no guns means no more violence. lets just make the whole Country a gun-free zone...

Let the justification for the "Haves" to have guns and the "Have-nots" not have them begin.

Chris WeaverJun 18, 2015

Todd WhitmerJun 18, 2015

At least they allowed a "debate" on this one. I'm sure the folks in charleston that are dealing with the terrible things that occurred there would understand and sympathize.

Belinda WarrickJun 18, 2015

Well I can tell you I AM a lot safer with guns in my house. We know how to use them and when to use them. If you come into my house without permission expect to die because I will empty my clip into whoever it is and while I'm popping my second clip in my hubby or kids will be squeezing their triggers and then I'll unload that clip into them if necessary and another clip. I can shoot off at least 30 rounds in 30 sec. Don't mess with mama bear's cubs or mate.